Friday, 30 March 2012

Have you got the stamping bug? Have you got creative tendencies that are not being fulfilled? Have you got time? We are looking for you to join us on our travels around the wonderful world of The Artistic Stamper!

You will have the opportunity to create gorgeous artwork and showcase it amongst our talented Creative Design Team. If you are that person, then contact us by email, and show us your ART!

The Creative Team call out ends on April 30th, and we will contact you after that date.

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

I can't believe how quickly March has whizzed by, and that it's time for my third and final post as guest designer here at the Artistic Stamper Creative Team, and I am going to let you peek into some of my art journal pages.

For me one of the joys of keeping an art journal (actually I should own up to having four on the go) is that they allow me to play around with supplies that I am not always quite sure what to do with, or how they will work together. At the moment I'm using a big sketch book, an old hardback book that I'm slowly altering and a couple of Moleskin journals for specific projects.

The first pages are from my big sketch book, and I've found that if the pages are a bit thin Mod Podge them together, and I nearly always gesso my pages, it makes the paper you are working on a lot more forgiving.

The background for this page is acrylic paint that is swiped on with a baby wipe (much easier than washing brushes). I have used the Swirls Splats and Dots stamp, and Journaling Words #1 to create my bubbly images, using Adirondack Inks in Pool and Lettuce. and the gold circles are a Gold Acrylic paint dabber, the words are stamped in black Archival Ink. The Adirondack ink takes an age to dry on the acrylic, and takes on a slightly faded and textured quality, using a heat gun will help a bit in the drying process, but don't get the acrylic and gesso too hot or it will start to bubble up randomly. The collage image is from my stash, and the wings are made from Tim Holtz tissue paper, that has been edged with some of that gold paint dabber.

For the second page I used Neocolour II water-soluble wax pastels (they look like wax crayons) which I scribbled over the page and then magically turned into a watercoloured background with a wet paintbrush. This time I've used acrylic paint to stamp the Splats and Swirls, and the words are from that same Journalling Words #1 set again stamped with Archival Ink.

Have some fun making paint splats using slightly watered down acrylic paint. The more random the better, though make sure you cover up the surrounding area, because if you're anything like me the splats won't just go on the page.

Finally here's a page from a travel themed journal that I'm making in a Moleskine notebook. This picture reminded me of my Grandma when she used to go off on holiday with her pals in the 1960's. I'm not sure if she ever ate moules et frites or drank wine, but who knows? This page has been sprayed with Adirondack Colour Wash, which has run down the page ( and been mopped up at the bottom with kitchen towel) before using Archival Ink in Aquamarine and Black for all stamping. I've used the Travel Words and Labels stamps on this page.

I really like having little bits sticking out of my journal and tags that I can write things under. Actually I just love journaling, and if things don't work out I can just cover them up with something else. Have fun!

Saturday, 24 March 2012

Hi,
This is just a very random, spur of the moment blogpost from the Boss! Over on my blog I have a giveaway of one of our new sets of stamps, and one of my tags!

Borders A6 #2

To win these, post a comment here and on my blog for double bubble, and if you fancy being a detective too for the day, join in our mini competition to find the mistake on one of our new sets of stamps! All the details and a clue are on my blog....
And a little heads up to watch this space for exciting new coming your way next weekend... :))))
Have a very creative and sunny weekend
Hugs
Jennie

Thursday, 22 March 2012

1. Cut some plain white card into a 4 inch square, another 4 and two eighth inch square and lastly another 4 and five eighth inch square......ink the edges of the largest one with Distress Ink faded jeans

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

It's already time for me to share my second post of the month and I decided to make a little hanging plaque to celebrate Spring arriving, using one of the gorgeous Mabel Lucie Attwell stamps as my focus point.

Here's how I made it ~

To begin with I stamped the Mabel Lucie Attwell image, Nature's Little Helper onto watercolour paper and coloured it using Distress Marker Pens (which incidentally are just the best pens I have ever owned ~ I love them!!). I scribbled some colour from the pens onto my craft mat and then hand painted the image using a waterbrush. Next, using Tim Holtz's Cabinet Die from Sizzix, I die cut a piece of chipboard and adhered my finished artwork onto this.

I then took a piece of corrugated cardboard from an old box and once again, used the Cabinet Die, together with the Movers and Shapers Mini Cabinet Die inside, I die cut the cardboard to make a frame. I used the Gold Metallic Paint Dabber over the frame, brushed some Vintage Photo DI over the edges for an aged look and then covered it with Rock Candy Crackle Paint. Once it was dry, I added the frame to my artwork.

I used the Mini Tattered Leaves die to die cut leaves from a sheet of clear Clearly For Art and blended lettuce Alcohol Ink over the top, before moulding them into shape. I then added the finished elements to my frame, together with a decorative pin.

Finally, I punched a hole in the top of the frame and added some twine, tied into a loop so it will hang.

So, that's about it from me for today...I hope you feel inspired to get inky and start creating. Don't forget that we would love to see your creations in our TRAVEL challenge ~ you have until the end of March to submit your entries.

Sunday, 18 March 2012

Hello Stampers. I've a little card to share with you for my second post of the month.

I don't know about you, but I'm loving the Crafter's Workshop Templates at the moment. I started the background for this card the other day. I'd spritzed a turquoise background for another card, then turned my template over, onto another piece of card, thus creating a reverse image. I then added some Crafty Notions Tangilicious accents through a circle template.

I stamped the phrase from Tim Holtz's Just Thoughts plate, onto white card, cut the individual words out, inked them with Vintage Photo, then glued them in place. Finally, I added my artwork to a square kraft card blank.

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Time for my second spot this month as guest designer. With spring in the air I have used the Insects and Butterflies No.1 stamp, which has just got some lovely finely detailed images to use. In fact, I like this stamp so much I have made both a small picture and a notebook.

First of all the picture.

First I stamped a butterfly onto some paper from my stash using Coffee Archival Ink. Next I glued some Clearly for Art to the top of a small Wendy Vecchi Artpart frame before covering with some more paper which I've sanded and inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink to give it a shabby look. Next I attached a mini bookplate to the base of the frame, and slipped in a Latin butterfly name cut from the Tim Holtz Crowded Attic Paperstack. Then, before gluing the frame to the base I popped in a few sparkly bits and a couple of tiny charms, and made a double loop of twine to hang the finished project.

While I had this stamp set out I also made a small note book as a gift for a friend.

For this I've recycled some packaging from Amazon to make the covers. I cut two postcard size pieces of card for the front and back covers and then cut an aperture in the front cover. Both bits of card are covered with paper, and then I've used a contrasting paper to stamp some more of those lovely butterflies and insects on, again using coffee Archival Ink, and used this paper to line both the front and back covers.

The inside pages are made from watercolour paper aged with Antique Linen Distress Stain and stamped with more insect images and swirls, splats and dots.

I've used a Bind-it-All to finish off my notebook, but it would work just as well with punched holes and some pretty ribbon to bind it together. Final finishing touches are some twine tied and curled around the binding rings and some bits of Idea-ology.﻿

7. I cut some letters from the word die using a piece of cardboard packaging but I forgot to turn it the other way up and was left with some of the printing on the letters but decided I liked the effect and kept it that way and added some colour using Distress Ink aged mahogany and brushed corduroy before applying some glossy accents.

I made a rosette from some paper in my stash, using the Decorative Strip Rosette and then, together with my embossed die cut clock and one of the gadget gears, I layered each piece to build up my clockface, on the front of the box. I attached the hands of the clock, using a brad from my stash and adhered them in the centre, making sure that they can move around freely.

I arranged the pieces that I had stamped earlier and stuck them onto the box, together with the embossed gadget gears.

Finally, I die cut the "Journey" wording using a Tim Holtz Alterations die, covered them with Glossy Accents and then added them to the front of my box.

So, that's about it from me and thanks for stopping by to take a look!

Don't forget that we have still have our TRAVEL Challenge running throughout March on the blog and we would love you to join in and to see all your fabulous creations.

See you again soon and I hope you have a lovely day, full of creativity.

Thursday, 8 March 2012

Hello Stampers! I have a Spring-inspired card to share with you today. Although, since I made it, the weather has turned wintery again! Lol!

I used brush pens to colour the floral image from Botanical Plate 2, then stamped it onto a book page. I tore around the image roughly, then inked the edge with an orange pen.

I inked the leaves with a green pen, then stamped them on the edge of a square kraft card. I added the floral image, stamped 'bloom', wrapped some string around the card, & finally attached a bee charm.

to start I blended the Distress inks over the page,
then stamped with the same colours,
I then stamped the border stamp top & bottom of the page
with jet black archival ink, then coloured the dots with a paint pen,
next I put together the art doll & doggies with various
collage sheets & images off the net, then glued them to the page,
I stamped the words out onto scrap paper,
cut them out & glued them to the page.
& lastly I drew the leads to the dogs.

Sunday, 4 March 2012

Hi, it's the Boss back again this month with the winner of last month's Hearts challenge. Wow!we had some absolutely gorgeous entries, and I loved them all. Thank you for joining in.
Of course, we have to have a winner, and Mr Random.org chose no 70 who is

Stacy, please email me, so we can arrange to get your prize to you :)
Don't forget to join in this month's challenge which is TRAVEL
We always look forward to seeing your art.
Have a very creative day
Jennie

Friday, 2 March 2012

Hi everyone. I'm really excited to be guest designer this month at the Artistic Stamper Creative Team, and to be able to share some of the fun I've had using just a few of the great stamps that Jennie produces. For my first piece I have used the Airmail Bird Collage Elements stamps. I just love that raven.
Guess what. I made a collage.
I love any excuse to get painty, inky, gluey and dig out my meltpot and beeswax.

To get started collage the vintage papers onto your canvas using multi medium and when dry use your paints sparingly to highlight interesting bits of the background and the if it all seems a bit bright scrape some creamy coloured paint over the entire surface with an old credit card. This only needs a tiny amount of paint. ( Claudine Hellmuth Traditional Tan acrylic would be perfect for this. I have also painted the edges of the canvas dark brown. It's best to do this now as if you get wax runs over the edges the paint never really adheres properly. I have pulled the brown paint just over on to the front of the canvas as I like the vintage look this gives.
Using Archival Ink for all your stamping (so it doesn't run). Stamp the postmark onto tissue and the raven and the words onto thin white cardstock or paper.
I've used Vintage Photo Distress Ink to colour the edges of the bird words and also the air mail element.
Now it's time to get out your Meltpot. First I made the UTEE heart by dissolving Fired Brick embossing powder in some UTEE and the pouring into a tiny cookie cutter. I don't worry about little bubbles as I think it just makes it look more vintage. Dab the pen nib with black acrylic paint to age it.

Next melt your beeswax and having decided where you want your various collage elements to go apply the wax with a natural bristle brush and use your heat gun to keep it liquid if you need to get rid of brush marks. ( Personally I quite like to leave little dribbles and runs of wax as it all adds to the texture, and I just love the smell of that hot beeswax). I decided not to completely cover the script with wax and left the edges curled up and got a semi-translucent look where the wax was in contact with the paper, again just adding extra texture.
The pen nib, heart and crown (cut in half) all embed into the wax with no problems.

Finally (and completely optional) I applied a sparing coat of multi-medium one edge at a time and dabbed on gold leaf, which only adheres in some places and looks really old, especially if you then seal it with some more multi -medium that you thin down slightly with brown paint and some water to make a wash. This gives a lovely grungy look.

If you've never tried beeswax collage have a go. It's great fun. And when you've finished your art and the wax has really solidified just buff, buff, buff with a soft cloth and you will get the most amazing sheen on your work.

Thursday, 1 March 2012

Thank you for all your fabulous entries to last month's challenge. The lucky winner will be announced in the next few days, so make sure you check back to see who it is.

This month we are welcoming the very talented Sue West as our Guest Designer and we are all really looking forward to seeing the wonderful artwork and creativity that she will be bringing to the team.

The new challenge for this month is all about TRAVEL and to join in with this challenge is simple; make a piece of artwork, include the theme and some rubberstamping, pop back here to link up using the Froggy at the bottom of this post, so that we can see what you've made and then, leave us a comment to let us know you have joined in. As ever there will be candy for one randomly picked entrant - £15 worth of The Artistic Stamper stamps of your choice plus the Kling On to mount them onto. And... if you use Artistic Stamper stamps on your entry, you will be entered twice into the draw! Before you start creating, just take a look at our Creative Team's stunning creations for this month's challenge.